St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-01-15
CARE OF FODDER.
The Last Outdoor Work Of the Year and
How Gt should He Done.

Tho Last Outdoor Work Of the Year and
How Il should he Done.
The fodder and straw on an average
farm. if carefully preserved. are worth
as much rs the hay. Fodder ought not
to be left in the field over winter; it
ought to be housed or Kicked. Still. it
should be left out until it is thoroughly
cured, else there is danger that it will
mold in the rick. Fodder-stacking
comes in order as about the last out
door labor of the season.
Where fodder is t. be hauled in and
in temporary punches of rude construc-
ton. Four bundles may be laid down
in a pile. we'll sharpened up. and about
eight set up on end around them. the
whole being secured against the wind by
the shock hills pulled up with the earth
on and laid around them.
once had constructed. and my ten
Ant still has in successful use on my
farm. . fodder-wogon made out Of an
old Pixies Peak ox-wagon. with four
iron bars bent 80 that the fore wheels
could be turned clear under them. and
back Of them dropping nearly to the
ground. This iron work involved more
expense than most farmers would want
to incur for fodder-wagon; but both
myself and the tenant found the prin-
ciplc excellent in practice. An ordi-
nary wagon is too high to pitch fodder
IN to. and ricking ought to be done
before there is snow for sled to run on.
Hu~ has vwh ir.h hA
has laid aside he can have it converted
into . fodier-wagon at slight expense.
Take eight iron bars. ) feet long, 2!xi
inch; bend them into elbows at . right
angle. Bolt four into each axle at
equal distances apart; one arm of tho
elbow will drop straight from the axle.
the other arm will project horizontal.
Bolt firmly to these iron elbows four
scantlings. SKI, and about twelve feet
long. The two axles will now be con-
nected by frame work about twelve
feet long and hanging down within
eight or ten inches of the ground. On
this the fodder 10 to be loaded. Braces
OF wool or iron can be boltcd on slant
ing to prevent the fodder from resting
directly on the wheels.
This is no chimera. 1 would not
recommend it il l had not tried one
very similar for years, and found it to
work we'll. One year when the folder
was rather light my men hauled twenty
eight eighty-hill shocks OF fodder at one
load. With this kind of wagon two
men will nearly build rick seventy
feet long in one day; l have often
demonstrated this.
Before the rick is started . platform
Of rails or poles should be laid down to
keep tho fodder little above the
ground. On this lay down n single
course of bundles. butt to tip alternately.
Then begin end outline the bottom of
rick with single course laid all around.
The ends of the rick may be built
square or rounding. The bundles of
this second course should lap on to
those of the first or middle course about
up to the band. Then lay third Tor
second middle) course. These middle
courses are to keep the center OF the
rick full. and give pitch or slope to
the outer courses. The rick does not
require any bulge; it should be carried
up perpendicular.
When the desired height is attained.
. stringer of bundles is laid lengthwise
Of the rick to receive the roof This
consists of a single course OF bundles
in each side. the butts firmly jabbed
into the outer edge of the rick. the tops
tsought together and interviewer.
forming the comb of the roof. Bundles
should never be laid lenSthwise in the
body Of the rick: this would prevent
it from being cut down straight in
feeding through the winter. A rick
constructed this way will not only keep
the fodder in excellent condition for
months. but it may be so placed a. to
form y good windbreak for stock
S!eDhea Pocers. III OHIO Former